Humidity-reducing apparatus.



No. 871,194. PATENTED NOV. 19. 1907.

R. H. THOMAS.

HUMIDITY REDUCING APPARATUS.

APVPLIOATION FILED OUT. 23. 1905 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

II II INVENTOR WITNESSES Allorney PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

R. H. THOMAS.

HUMIDITY REDUCING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT. 23, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

/6 q. hy

PATENT oFFIoE.

RICHARD H. THOMAS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS- HUMIDITY-REDUCING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Batented Nov. 19, 1907.

Application filed October 23, 1905. Serial No. 284.006.

To all whom 'it may concern: Be it known that I, RICHARD THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Humidity-Reducing System or Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of systems or aparatuses which are designed for reducing or esseningthe humidity or moisture present in air and more especially in such systems or apparatuses of this character as are more especially adapted for use in connection with air purifying means, and the'object of the invention is to provide a humidity reducing system or apparatus of a simple and comparatively inexpensive nature and of an improved and compact construction which shall permit ofbeing operated in a substantially continuous manner for the reduction and regulation of the humidity of the air passed through the improved apparatus.

The invention consists in certain novel features of the construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts of the improved humidity reducing system or apparatus, whereby certain important advantages are attained and the improved system or apparatus isfendered simpler, cheaper and otherwise better adapted and more convenient for use, all as will 'be hereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings which serve to illustrate the invention-Figure 1 is a plan view showing a system or apparatus constructed according to my invention, portions of the same being broken out and ing part of my improved apparatus.

shown in section for the illustration of certain features of construction to be hereinafter referred to. Fig.2 is a side elevation of the improved apparatus as shown in Fig. 1." Fig. 3 isa sectional detail view, drawn to a larger scale and showing features of construction of the diaphragm regulator .Ifprm- 1g. 4 is an enlarged detail view showing, detached, the regulating or controlling valve actuated from the hygrostat for regulating or controlling the operation of the improved apparatus. Fig. 5 is a view somewhat form of the improved system or apparatus.

Referrin first to Figs. 1 to 4, it will be seen that t e improved system or apparatus comprises a casing L which may be of an suitable construction, being provided with an air passage extended through it, in which air passage are arranged the several instrumentalities for treating the airfor the removal or reduction of its humidity. The casing 1 is here shown as also forming the casing of an air purifier with which the improved apparatus is combined, but' I make no claim herein to the details of said air purifier, nor do I desire to be understood as limiting myself to the use of my present improvements in connection with this or any other air purifier, since it is evident that the improved humidity reducing system or apparatus is ada ted for use equally well where purification o' the air is not requi'red.

As herein shown, the air for treatment by my improved system or apparatus is supplied to the casing 1 at the right hand. end thereof, being directed through the passage as indicated by the arrows w, a: in Fig. 1, and at said right hand end of the air passage in the casing is produced a spraying chamber 2, wherein is arranged suitable spraying means herein indicated at 3 and consisting of a 1 spray pipe having suitable nozzles for spraying; water or other suitable cleansing and purifying agent through the entering air supply. 5, 5 represent the spray nozzles on the pipe 3 and 4 represents'a water supply pipe which may be connected with any suitable source of supply and which communicates with spray-pipe 3 for supply of water thereto. By means of the spray thus produced in the chamber 2 of the casing 1, the entering air is freed from solid impurities together with such vapors and gases as are soluble in water, such impurities falling to the floor of chamber 2 with said spray and being withdrawn by way of a suitable outlet. 6 6 represent inclined angular baffle plates or deflectors vertically extended in chamber 2 beyond the spraying device and designed to laterally deflect the air passing through the casing to plates 6, 6 on contact therewith so as to flow down the plates to the floor of chamber 2 whence it may escape at the outlet provided as above described. The air thus treated, while being purified from solid impurities and of a certain proportion of those gases and vapors which are soluble in water, still carries with it a certain percentage of moisture and of gases and vapors which were not removed by the spraying treatment and for. the removal of such moisture and gases and vapors Lprovide in the passage of the casing 1, beyond the spraying chamber 2 the means which I will 110W describe, premising that the removal of the moisture or humidity from the air is the principal function of such means, the removal of other impurities therefrom being only incidental to the operation of the said means.

7 represents a chamber produced in the passage of the casing 1 beyond the spraying chamber-2 and which I will term for convenience, the drying chamber, and insaid drying chamber as herein shown are arranged transverse series of laterally inclined or angular baffle plates or deflectors 6, 6 vertically extended and similar in all respects to the bafile plates or deflectors of the spraying chamber and also adapted to laterally deflect the air passing through the drying chamber, although this is not essential to my -present invention since said bafllejplates in the drying chamber 7 may be of any desired kind or may in some cases, be altogether omitted. Beyond the drying chamber 7, the air passage of the casing 1 forms an outlet or discharge chamber 9 which is herein shown at the left hand end of the casing and which serves to receive certain regulating or controlling means as will be hereinafter explained.

10 represents a tank or trough supported at the upper part of the drying chamber 7 and having its bottom formed with perforations 11 designed for the discharge of a drying solution or agent from the trough or tank' .1nto the drying chamber.

When such agent is used in the form of a solution, it is evident that it will be permitted totrickle down through the'drying chamber from trough or tank 10 in the spaces between the baffle plates 6 as Well as over the surfaces of said plates so that the air circulating t ough the I drying chamber between said plate will be brought into intimatecontact with s oh so-.-

lution for substantially complete rem val of its moisture or humidity. when desired. When the laterally inclined baflle plates are employed in the drying chamber, it is evident that the drying material is brought into more intimate contact with the air owing to the circuitous path traversed by the air, and in this way it is possible to make the drying chamber of much smaller dimensions than would otherwise be necessary. Id'o not,

however, desire to be understood as limiting myself to the employment of this special means for supplying the drying agent to the drying chamber, nor to the employment of such agent in the form of solution, since it will be obvious that other means for the supply thereof may be provided in lieu of the devices herein shown and also that the agent may be in the form of powder or other form adapted for being brought into intimate relation with the air to be treated.

j 8 represents a tank or trough arranged at the base of the drying chamber 7 for the collection of the drying solution or agent after the same shall have trickled or passed down through said drying chamber, and 12 represents a supply pipe-by way of which the drying solution is supplied to the trough or tank 10-from a pumping device 13, drawing its supply of such solution by way of a pipe 14 from a supply tank 17.

18 indicates an overflow .pipe connected with the upper part of the trough or tank 10, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2 for drawing off therefrom any excess of solution which may be supplied by the'pumping device 13, and said pipe 18 has at its lower end a connection 19 with the trough 8 at the base of the drying chamber 7, so that the spent solution from said receiving trou h or tank 8 is also discharged into said plpe 18. A'waste pipe 20 connects the lower end of pipe 18. with the supply tank 17 so that the excess of solution.

2 and said coilhas at one end a steam con-' nection 21 at which live steam is supplied thereto from a boiler (not shown) .the opposite end of said coil having connection wlth a drip-pipe through which the condensation is discharged as shown at 22. 23, is a vapor pipe fitted to the tank and by the employmentof the steam coil it will be understood that the spent solution in the tank 17 may be heated and partially evaporated so as-to concentrate such solution after its employment'.

for removal of moisture from the air in chamber 7 so that the same solution may be re peatedly employed, the vapor escaping from the tank 17 by way of pipe 23.

The solution employed will'be,'by preference, a strong solution of some such substance as calcium chlorid having strong afllnity for water and by the evaporation or concentration effected in the tank 17 such solution will be maintained at a strength suflicient to cause the solution when allowed to trickle through the drying chamber 7, to abstract the watery vapor from the air flowing through the casing 1, a certain proportion of the other gaseous or'vaporous lmpurities of.

such air being likewise taken up by said solu- '-tor 16 the detailed midityof the air whereby with the condition of the air in chamber 9 so that a uniform gree of humidity 01' dryness of '60 14 leading from tank diaphragm uplifted and valve 15 normally pipe 30, adapted to convey compressed air, I "the regulated admission of which serves 0 improved 1 ap tion. -When the solution is returned to tank 17 the excess of water thus acquired, together with such other impurities will be dissipated by the heat applied from the steam coil, or other heating medium.

' The pumping device may be driven from x any desired source of power and in the pipe I 17 to said pumping device is arranged a valve 15 controlling the supply of solution to said pumping device and. itself controlled by a diaphragm regulastructure of which is shown in Fig. 3 and comprises a flexible diaphragm 35 extended in a casing 34 and connected with the stem 33 of valve 15, a spring 36 being coiled on the valve stem-to hold said closed: The casing 34 has a cover fitted above the diaphragm 35 and within said coveris a-chambcr with WhlCll connects a depress the diaphragm 35 and open valve 15 so that solution may flow through pipe 14 to the pumping device.

24 indicates a hygrostat which, as shown inFig. 4, comprises two strips suitably supported at one end and laid one on the other I and bent in volute form, said strips being I made from substances adapted to expand and contract unequally at different degrees of humovement is transmitted to the free end of the device. The

outer strip may be conveniently formed from cat-gut, hair or the like while the inner strip may be conveniently made of metal. This hygrostat is-arranged in the outlet or discharge chamber 9 or otherwise of the easing 1' and its free movable endis connected to operate the stem 25 of a valve 25 from variations in humidity of the air in said dis-' charge chamber 9,said valve 25 being inserted between air pipes 29 and 26, the former of which has connection with pipe 30 leading to the diaphragm regulator 16 and the latter of which connects with a pipe 27 leading to a tank or r eservoir 28 adapted to hold a su ply of compressed air which is discharged fiom said tank through pipes 27, 26, 29 and 30, valve 25 being opened, to the diaphragm chamber to regulate the extent of opening of the valve 15 whereby the flow of solution to the ump is likewise regulated fromthe o eration of the hygrostat. In this way it Will be understood that the su pl of'the drying solution is directly contro le in accordance the discharge and even dethe treated air is automatically attained by the use of'my aratus, By prpper adjustment it Willa so be obvious that the degree of humidity or dryness of the discharged air may also be varied so that the operation of valve 12 in pipe 12 permitting regulation of the supply of solutionby hand.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of the improved apparatus which is adapted for use m.connection with some form of solid drying agent, such for example, as dry or powdered calcium chlorid which may be contained in a concentrating or drying pan 17 and fed by conveyers 44 and 46 communieating by way of a hopper 45 and of any preferred 10 at the top of the drying c amber in casing 1, falling through the air current in the drying chamber and taking up the moisture or humidity from such air so that it attains a liquid or semi-liquid state on reaching the base of said chamber where it is received in a trough and returned therefrom by way of pipe 20 to tank or pan 17.

The conveyers may be operated by belting as seen at 43 from an electric motor 42, the circuit of which is controlled by a switch or controller 41 comprising an arm actuated by a link connection 40 from a diaphragm regulator 16 similar to that described above except that said link connection takes the place of the valve-stem 33. The regulator 16 is controlled automatically by the hygrostat in substantially the same way as above described so that the supply of the drying agent" to the drying chamber -is automatically regulated through the electrical connection from the degree of humidit or dryness of the air in the discharge chani er of easing 1 in order to insure uniform and even operation of the apparatus,

From the above description it will beevident that the improved apparatus is of a inexpensive nature and is especial y well a apted for use by, reason of the automatic action which insures uniform dryness of the treated air'. The drying agent is also continuously supplied so that the operation of the apparatus or system is made ractically continuous and by repeatedlyuslng the" same supply of drying agent and concentrating the same for the removal of the excess of water therefrom an important economy is attained in the cost ofo eration.

construction, to a ho per or trough- It wil also be obvious from the above descr ption that the improved system or apparatus is ca able of considerable change without material departure from the principles and spirit of theinvention and for this reason I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the grecise form and arrangement of the severa parts of the apparatus herein shown and described in carrying out my invention in practice. Nor do I desire to be understood as limiting myself to the employment of any articular drying agent, either liquid or so id, or to the means for supplying the same nor to the peculiar means for re ulating such supply herein shown, since a 1 these features are capable of change without departure from my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An ap having a aratus of the character described,

rying chamber adapted for the passage of air, means for supplying a drying agent to said chamber for abstraction. of'moisture from such air and means, controlled from the degree of moisture or dry ness of the air discharged from said chamber and connected with said supplying means to regulate the supply of such drying agent to said drying chamber.

2. An'ap aratus of the character described having a rying chamber adapted for the passage of air in a horizontal direction, means to laterally deflect the air through said chamber, means at the upper part of said chamber, for discharging a sup ly of drying agent thereto, whereby such rymg agent is permitted to fall through the air passing through the drying chamber in a direction transyerse to the directlon of the flower air through said chamber, and'means at the base of said drying chamber for,dis-- charging such drying agent therefrom,

3. An ap ar'atus of the character described having a rying chamber adapted for the ,passa'gelof air in a horizontal direction, in-

clined devices in said chamber and adapted to laterally deflect the air flowing through the same, a device at the upper art of said chamber for discharging a su 'ply of drying 'agent thereto, whereby such rying agent is permitted to fall through the air passing through the drying chamber in a direction transverse to the direction of the flow of air circulating through said chamber, a trough at the base ofthefdrying chamber to receive the drying agent thus supplied, and means for withdrawing'the drying agent from said trough. a I

4. An a paratus of the character described having a rying chamber rovided with vertically extended later-a y inclined baflie plates between which is produced a circuit- 7 f ous passage for air horizontally directed through said chamber,- a device at the upper part of said chamber for discharging a supply of drying agent thereto, whereby said drymg agent is permitted to fall through the air passing between the baflie lates in a'direction 'transverseto the directlon of the flow of said air, and means at the base of the drying chamber for discharging such drying agent therefrom, v

' 5. An apparatus of the character described comprisin a drying chamber adaptedfor the passage 0 air, means for supplying a drying agent to said chamber for abstraction of moisture from such air and comprising a pum ing device, a supply receptacle with whic the umping device has connection, means for eating said receptacle, a connection extended from the drying chamber to the supply receptacle for the return of the drying agent from saidchamber to the receptacle, a hygrostat exposed to the air discharged from the. drying chamber and actu ated from variations in the degree of dryness or humidity thereof and means, operated by the hygrostat and controlling the su ply of drying agent from said receptacle t ough the pumping device to the drying chamber. 6. Anapparatus of the character described having a rying chamber adapted for the passage of air, means for supplying a drying" agent to said chamber for abstraction of moisture from such air and comprising a pumping device, a receptacle for the drying agent having heatingmeans andconnected with the pum ing device, a connection extended from t e drying chamber to said receptacle for the return ofthe drying agent from said chamber to said receptacle, a valve controlling the connection of the receptacle with the pumping device, adiaphragm regu lator connected to operate the valve and havinga'diaphragm chamber, a tank to contain compressed air and having pipe connection with the diaphragm chamber of said regulator, a valve controlling said pipe eonnection and a hygrostat exposed to the air discharged from the drying chamber and actuated from variations in the degree of drying or humidity thereof and having connection with said last-named valve to operate the 

